[Nortel to deploy a GSM-R network for the Channel Tunnel Rail Line between London and Folkestone.]

London -- Thales UK has selected Nortel to provide a digital wireless communications network and support services for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link between London and Folkestone. The network will be designed to support secure, reliable voice communications to train controllers and drivers using the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, including EUROSTAR.

Thales UK's telecommunications business was contracted to supply communications services by Rail Link Engineering, the company responsible for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Nortel will work alongside Thales UK to deploy a GSM for Railways (GSM-R) network. Nortel is the world leader in GSM-R technology with a 60 percent market share of lines deployed to date.

Working alongside Thales UK, Nortel is providing engineering, installation, integration, project and consultancy services for the Channel Tunnel Tail Link GSM-R network. Channel Tunnel Rail Link drivers will communicate via GSM-R terminals to GSM-R base transceiver stations along the rail link between London and Folkestone, connected through a base station controller located in Ashford, Kent.

Nortel has been a pioneer in the GSM-R standards process since 1992, and has worked with UIC (Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer) and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). Nortel supplied equipment for the MORANE (Mobile Radio for Railways Networks in Europe) trial and was a major contributor to the EIRENE (European Integrated Railway radio Enhanced Network) GSM-R standard.